How To Get A Car Tax Refund

If you no longer need the tax disc for your vehicle you can apply to the DVLA for a refund.  You’ll need to be the current or last registered keeper of the vehicle and you’ll need to explain why the car no longer needs the tax disc.

Keep reading for a full guide to how you get a car tax refund.

When you can apply for a car tax refund

There are various reasons you may be eligible for a refund.  These include:

• The vehicle has been sold or transferred
• The vehicle has been scrapped
• The vehicle has been stolen

You should post your refund application before the first day of the month that you are claiming the refund.  If you don’t provide details of why the car tax is no longer required your application will be rejected.

How to apply for a car tax refund

You can apply for a refund of car tax either with our without the tax disc.

Application for a refund with the tax disc

To apply for a refund with your tax disc you should complete and then print the online form V14 ‘Application for a refund of vehicle tax when you have the tax disc’.  This should be signed and sent to the DVLA with the tax disc.

Application for a refund without the tax disc

To apply for a refund without the tax disc you should complete the form V33 ‘Application for a refund of vehicle tax when the tax disc is missing’.  You can obtain the form from DVLA Customer Enquiries of your local DVLA office.

What to do if your car has been stolen

When you report the theft of your vehicle you will be given a crime reference number by the police.  You should provide these details on the V33 form.

You should wait at least seven days before applying for a car tax refund.

How much will my car tax refund be?

You will receive a refund for each full month left to run on the tax disc at the time you apply.  For example, if your tax disc expires at the end of October and you apply during August, you’ll receive a refund for two months.  Refunds cannot be backdated.

If it is a six month tax disc, you will have paid an extra ten per cent handling charge when you bought it.  This is not included as part of your car tax refund.

If you don’t have your tax disc an administration charge of £7 will be made and this will be deducted from the amount refunded to you.

If you paid a higher ‘first year’ car tax rate for a new car, you will only get a refund based on this higher amount if the vehicle has been stolen, scrapped or if its tax class has changed to a ‘nil value’ tax class.  For any other reasons, your car tax refund will be based on the lower standard rate.

When will I get my car tax refund?

DVLA say that car tax refunds will take up to 6 weeks to process.